Resolve, To Establish a Working Group of Stakeholders To Review the Current and Future Dementia Training Needs of Long-term Care Providers

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  there are currently 30,000 individuals in Maine with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia and the number will grow to over 45,000 by 2025; and

Whereas,  due to the nature of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias many of these individuals will require long-term care at some point during their illnesses; and

Whereas,  it is necessary to ensure a well-trained and capable long-term care workforce as soon as possible; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Working group to review dementia training needs of long-term care providers. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish within existing resources a working group of stakeholders to review the current and future dementia training needs of long-term care providers. The working group must include a representative from the department's Office of Elder and Adult Services, a representative of the department's Office of Adult Mental Health Services, a representative of individuals with dementia, a representative of the long-term care ombudsman program created under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 5106, a representative of long-term care facilities, a representative of assisted living facilities, a representative of providers of home health care and other interested parties. The working group shall assess the current and future training needs of providers of long-term care and shall make recommendations to the Commissioner of Health and Human Services. The commissioner shall report on the work and recommendations of the working group to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by November 30, 2011.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.